ambitions

I don't know why but the word ambition always makes me think of the word 'amphibians', which means frogs, and this post is nothing about frogs.

I used to be a big list writer. I make lists almost every day. Things I needed to remember, things to do, things I'd like to do, things that I like, things that I love, just random stuff.

Today I've been making a list of things in my head that I'd like to improve on, so I just wanted to write them down before I forgot:

• improve my manual skills with photography
• practice my french more (read books and watch films in french)
• go to the library more often
• run three miles in 15 mins
• learn more songs on my ukulele
• learn more chords on my guitar
• go through my Facebook and cleanse my friends list (not to be a jerk, but sometimes you realize that there are people that you really don't need to keep in contact with)
• make a new 5 year plan
• figure a plan to graduate within the next on coming year
• create a formal resume and portfolio

These are all short-term ambitions obviously, just stuff I aspire to get done soon. I think they're all reasonable, if not easy.

sick day

I'm sick today.

So instead of going to bed at a reasonable time like my mother had insisted, I watched YouTube videos. But they're amazing!!

First: this guy's proposal, aside from being in my backyard of Downtown Disney, is freaking adorable!! Just look at how nervous this sweet guy is! It happened just a few days ago, on the 24th. I wish them the best... even though I have no idea who they are.

Second: These are my future children. I already know I'm doomed to have twins, so I think I have a chance. I happen to love the game Just Dance 2, so when I saw them playing it, I knew I need to recreate these kids for myself. I love it.

ahhhhhhhh!

I'm going to Disneyland in THREE WEEKS!!!

greatest photo of all time

This is a photo I randomly stumbled upon. It's a photo of the world's smallest man dancing with his cat in his doorway. I have no idea who it's buy or what it's called, but it's fantastic.

texas

These are just some shots I got from my first visit to Texas. My Dad just moved to San Antonio, so I got to take little adventures on my own. Meaning: my step-mother dropped me off at the Alamo for a few hours while she and my Dad had to work. Needless to say, I felt independent

Antique store. Closed. Lame.

The Alamo... I kind of love this old man who took almost 30 mins for him to read a 5-sentanced dedication 

The River Walk

One of the first Walgreens

Fralo's is an amazing out-doors brick-oven pizza place

fact

The perfect cure for a headache, stomach ache, body pains, and/or extreme crankiness is a warm shower in the dark.

Today I was a beast. It was one of those days where I was having an ok day, got kind of tired, so I decided to take a 50 min nap. Well instead of waking up refreshed, I woke up feeling like a steroid-overdosed viking. Needless to say, I was a beast. Which was proven by the instance where I physically and violently shoved my roommate's boyfriend out of the apartment and slammed the door in his face for jumping out at me and scaring me half to death... it was a reflex?

I haven't gotten any homework done and I feel just as nasty. So I throw my flag in the air. I give up. I'm going to bed, I'll try again in the morning.

But really, the shower helped.

thought

Day 9 of 1 year without soda.

While doing the dishes, I could smell the citrus lemon of the dish soap and I instantly wanted a Sprite.

I thought about licking the newly clean bowl, but I determined it would give me a lesser if not disgusted satisfaction.

Needless to say, I resisted and I need to get a different dish soap.

photo thoughts

I don't think it would be possible to get in this shower without having to sing, "I'm gonna wash that man right outta my hair"

I would love to do this

I don't know whether I should laugh, or be afraid that my kids would do the same thing

I need a poster of this

To the left is a full body scan of a 250lb woman and to the right is a scan of a woman 120lbs. It's just some inspiration I needed. I lost 4lbs this week. 

I saw a collection of this artist's work. He draws different celebrities on match boxes and uses the sticks as hands

"a woman should have" -maya angelou

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own,
even if she never wants to or needs to…

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

something perfect to wear if the employer, or date of her dreams wants to see her in an hour…

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ..

a youth she’s content to leave behind….

a past juicy enough that she’s looking forward to
retelling it in her old age….

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …..

a set of screwdrivers, a cordless drill, and a black lace bra…

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE .

one friend who always makes her laugh… and one who lets her cry…

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ….

a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family…

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …

eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a recipe for a meal, that will make her guests feel honored…

A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE …

a feeling of control over her destiny.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…

how to fall in love without losing herself.

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…

how to quit a job, break up with a lover, and confront a friend without ruining the friendship…

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…

when to try harder… and WHEN TO WALK AWAY…

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…

that she can’t change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents..

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…

that her childhood may not have been perfect…but its over…

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…

what she would and wouldn’t do for love or more…

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…

how to live alone… even if she doesn’t like it…

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW..

whom she can trust,
whom she can’t,
and why she shouldn’t take it personally…

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…

where to go…
be it to her best friend’s kitchen table…
or a charming inn in the woods…
when her soul needs soothing…

EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW…

what she can and can’t accomplish in a day…
a month…and a year…

puppy love

I'm having extreme puppy-cravings.

Don't get me wrong. I love Pippin. He's so cute. But I want to get him a little brother! I've decided I'm a Scotty dog person. I grew up with them, so I'm just used to them.

But aren't they so cute?!

Pippin looked just like this! A baby polar bear 

I think I need a black one to match Pippin

Or maybe I'll just get a Wookie

guess what?!

Guess where I'm going?!

Here's some hints:

I'm going to Disneyland for the Halloween Party!!

I cannot tell you how excited I am!! I have been geeking out to Disney music all day. And planning my costume. It's going to be AMAZING! (ohmygosh... The Tiki Room just came on my playlist). I've done the Halloween party in Disneyland before, but it was in California Adventures at the time, but because of all the construction going on, they're hosting it in Disneyland this year!! That's going to be even more amazing, since there's more decorations over there. The only sad part is that Pirates of the Caribbean and the Blue Bayou will be closed for refurbishment.

But my costume is going to be amazing! I've decided to go as none-other than Mary Poppins!! I'm so excited! My mother has the umbrella that I'm borrowing and the rest is just a matter of piecing it together.

I'll see you guys soon!

they say it's your birthday

Sunday was my birthday. Woop. One year older and wiser too.

It was actually really great. I had purposely planned a really low-key birthday. I was just going to relax with my roommates, fix myself a large breakfast, go to church, and open a few packages, and take a well deserved nap!

The saturday before I had planned to go out to dinner with a few friends. M and B recommended Famous Dave's BBQ. Sounded great, so we headed over. The food was delicious, but it was soured by some unwanted entertainment... Bagpipes.

I'm not even joking. What does bagpipes have to do with good ole Idaho BBQ?! It was so loud and they wouldn't leave. Not to meantion that they had to play in every room of the restaurant, which unfortunately were all close quarters. So you heard the same song at least four times, maybe more, since their lack of knowledge of songs required them to play the same song more than once in one or more rooms.

I was not amused.

This was during the second round of "Praise to the Man"

After dinner, we headed over to M and B's home for some cake. B is amazing. She can totally convert you to tuna casserole and she can amaze you with her cake decorating skills. They surprised me with this amazing and delicious home baked cake. It feels great to have such supporting friends of quirks.

 Then they surprised me further with the most gorgeous gift. I had seen this many times in Disneyland and in stores alike. I had always been tempted to buy it for myself but I had been lacking either courage or funds. So imagine how touched I was to see when M and B had been amazing enough to find the perfect gift.

I've also been extremely fortunate to have a wonderful collection of friends and family who know me well enough to surprise me with some of the most wonderful gifts. My cute niece and nephews sent hand written cards. There were plenty of sweet treats and thoughtful cards. These are just a few of the bounty I accumulated:

 A vintage Mickey necklace. I'm getting really into gold now

R2-D2 decal for my phone. It's amazing!! It covers the entire phone. I'm obsessed.

Photos in brightly colored frames 

A vintage Beatles record brought to my by A, all the way from Russia, so everything's written in Russian but I'm pretty sure they still sing in English. I haven't had the pleasure of listening to it quite yet.

So a very happy birthday to me! I enjoyed a great day with great friends and many unexpected surprises. Including coming home to a home filled with balloons and star wars cupcakes! Yum!

Fun fact: the Beatle's birthday song "They Say it's Your Birthday" was in fact written on September 18, 1969. Twenty years before I was born. To the day. It was fate!

homework... it has begun

I'm freaking out. I have so much to do now and school has only just started a week ago.

I've already got three pots due tomorrow for my ceramics class and four photos for my Color Photography class. Not to mention a TON of reading for my History of Photography and Art History classes, and those baby's never contain easy or short reading.

So I'm checking my list off of things I need to get done. But I did just finish my color photos. They're kind of bland and I'm sure I'll look back on them tomorrow and think "what the heck were you thinking?!". We'll find out tomorrow...

thought

I don't know what my problem is, but I have been sneezing at least three times a day for the last week.

I think I'm allergic to Idaho.

portraits

I would rather take photos of people. I like the challenge of trying to capture someone's personality. But how to do you capture someone's sense of humor? Go crazy! That's why I find these three photos to be absolutely hilarious and inspiring. Have a laugh, it's on me.

thought

Today I bought a pair of men's jeans.

I bought them for the purpose of wearing them for my ceramics class. But they are so comfortable, I am almost tempted to buy a regular pair just to wear...

historic disney

I thought this was cool, these are drawings that someone did of the classic Disney Princesses in their style of era. 

Sleeping Beauty

Pocahontas

Jasmine

Ariel (did anyone else realize she was in the Victorian era?)

Belle

photo thoughts

doesn't this make you want to swim to the bottom of a pool?

it took me a while to look at this